Travelling Speeches

Dear Friends,
A long subway ride to the Pearson International airport kicked off my Thanksgiving weekend.
As I rode in one of the new trains, quite proud of myself for having dodged a 57-dollar cab fare, I realized that thanks to Ontario Premier's war on teachers, I will have many more of these proud moments. While I was struggling with my unattractive feelings for McGuinty and his Bill 115, I noticed the man beside me had claimed my right arm and shoulder! Instinctively, I sat up straight, pushed him over and freed my numb body parts, reclaiming my space. I might not be able to elbow the Premier of Ontario off his podium, but I could literally elbow this obnoxious man back to his corner!
As I looked around, avoiding eye contact with my neighbour, I noticed all male subway passengers, big or small, thin or tall sat with their thighs a good meter apart from one other, while their female neighbours, stranger or familiar, were scrunched up into a petit ball beside them.
Most men need a lesson or two in sitting within their spatial means! Accepted and filed.

At the security gate at the airport, I encountered more annoyance. Doesn't everyone know already that removing shoes, belts and coats take place before reaching the white bins and the rolling racks?
Passengers who like to outsmart other travellers by ignoring their group number and board the plane whenever they feel like it, are also very annoying! I had to fold myself in three plies, to fit between my seat and the overhead compartment, to let a few irresponsible persons with poor listening skills squeeze by me. I also had to elbow the person sitting by the window. She hadn't realized that I too had paid for a seat with two armrests.
Being disappointed by etiquette-less travellers, in more than one occasion, forces me to say there are people out there who really need a lesson or two in glob-trotting. Accepted and filed!

On my way back from New York, I myself took the liberty of utterly disappointing me for the grand total of 132 dollars.
I arrived at the airport too late. I had mistaken the time of my arrival in Toronto with the time of my  departure from LaGuardia. I had to pay 75 dollars to be put on the next flight home. Obviously, upon my arrival, I had no intention of savouring another proud moment in the subway train!
Since the two-hour mixup plus the 45-minute holdup, hadn't resulted in any enlightening messages, interesting encounters or special offers, I concluded the delay simply meant I was losing it, and it was going to be expensive. But then, the sign appeared! As I passed through the automatic glass doors, I heard voices screaming "Madame, Madame!"

Peu importe, what Bill 115 does or the Premier of Ontario and "public" think or argue, my former students and their mother cheerfully calling me out, from across terminal 3, says it all!
Filed and accepted!
What did you accept and file this Thanksgiving long weekend?